William Renshaw

For other people named William Renshaw, see William Renshaw (disambiguation).

William Renshaw
Singles

Full name	William Charles Renshaw
Country	United Kingdom
Born	(1861-01-03)3 January 1861 Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Died	12 August 1904(1904-08-12) (aged 43) Swanage, Dorset
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Plays	Right-handed (1-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HOF	1983 (member page)
Highest ranking	No. 1 (1881, Karoly Mazak)^[1]
Grand Slam Singles results
Wimbledon	W (1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889)
Other tournaments
Doubles
Grand Slam Doubles results
Wimbledon	W (1884, 1885, 1886, 1888, 1889)

Tennis players William and Ernest Renshaw on a postal card, around 1890

William (L) and Ernest (R) Renshaw

William "Willie" Charles Renshaw (3 January 1861 – 12 August 1904) was a former World No. 1 British tennis player active during the late 19th century. He was one of the most successful male players in the history of the Wimbledon Championships, winning the singles title a record seven times. Additionally he won the doubles title five times together with his brother Ernest. The right-hander was known for his power and technical ability which put him ahead of competition at the time. He was the first president of the British Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Career

Renshaw won a total of twelve Wimbledon titles.^[2] Seven of those were in singles, an all-time record he shares with Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. The first six were consecutive, an achievement which has been unequaled to this day (although the five successive wins of Björn Borg and Roger Federer are considered the 'modern' record because in Renshaw's time the reigning champion had automatic entry to next year's final. Since 1922 the reigning champions have had to play in the main draw, making such feats considerably more difficult). In the Summer months he would compete in England and Ireland, while competing on the French Riviera during the winter months and practising on a private tennis court he and his brother had built at their own cost.^[3] In singles play he played his twin brother Ernest Renshaw three times (1882, 1883 and 1889) in the Wimbledon final, triumphing on all three occasions. He was unable to defend his title in 1887 due to a tennis elbow, the first time this injury received public attention, and during his absence took up golf.^[3]^[4]^[5] The other five titles were in the Gentlemen's doubles, partnering with Ernest. Additionally, he and his brother dominated the sport for many years in a time when the only other Grand Slam was the US Open, and by custom players did not travel far. The rise in popularity of tennis in this period became known as the 'Renshaw Rush'.^[6]^[7] In 1888 William was elected the first president of the British Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).^[3] In 1983, William Renshaw was elected posthumously into the International Tennis Hall of Fame together with his brother.

Death

He died of epileptic convulsions.^[8]

Grand Slam finals

Singles (8)

Wins (7)

Year	Championship	Opponent in Final	Score in Final
1881	Wimbledon	John Hartley	6–0, 6–1, 6–1
1882	Wimbledon (2)	Ernest Renshaw	6–1, 2–6, 4–6, 6–2, 6–2
1883	Wimbledon (3)	Ernest Renshaw	2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
1884	Wimbledon (4)	Herbert Lawford	6–0, 6–4, 9–7
1885	Wimbledon (5)	Herbert Lawford	7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5
1886	Wimbledon (6)	Herbert Lawford	6–0, 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1889	Wimbledon (7)	Ernest Renshaw	7–5, 6–2, 4–6, 7–5

Runner-ups (1)

Year	Championship	Opponent in Final	Score in Final
1890	Wimbledon	Willoughby Hamilton	6–8, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–1

Doubles (5)

Wins (5)

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent in the final	Score in the final
1884	Wimbledon	Ernest Renshaw	Ernest Lewis E.L. Williams	6–3, 6–1, 1-6, 6-4
1885	Wimbledon (2)	Ernest Renshaw	C.E. Farrer A.J. Stanley	6–3, 6–3, 10-8
1886	Wimbledon (3)	Ernest Renshaw	C.E. Farrer A.J. Stanley	6–3, 6–3, 4-6, 7-5
1888	Wimbledon (4)	Ernest Renshaw	Herbert Wilberforce Patrick Bowes-Lyon	2-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
1889	Wimbledon (5)	Ernest Renshaw	Ernest Lewis George Hillyard	6–4, 6–4, 3-6, 0-6, 6-1

Grand Slam record

Wimbledon

Singles champion: 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1889
Singles finalist: 1890
Doubles champion: 1884, 1885, 1886, 1888, 1889

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Renshaw.

↑ Mazak, Karoly (2010). The Concise History of Tennis, p. 9.
↑ Bud Collins (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed. ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. pp. 414/415, 435, 630. ISBN 978-0942257700.
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Gillmeister, Heiner (1998). Tennis : A Cultural History (Repr. ed.). London: Leicester University Press. pp. 190, 191, 199. ISBN 978-0718501952.
↑ "Stands Lawn Tennis Where It Did?". Aberdeen Evening Express (British Newspaper Archive). 16 August 1893. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "Lawn Tennis – Championship Meeting". Birmingham Daily Post (British Newspaper Archive). 30 June 1891. (subscription required (help)).
↑ "History of The All England Club and The Wimbledon Championships". AELTC. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
↑ "The Start of Something Special". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC. 31 May 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
↑ http://www.db4tennis.com/players/male/william-renshaw

External links

International Tennis Hall of Fame